No. 3 ranking matches highest ever

November 7, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE – After setting a school record for points in Friday’s win over No. 16 Auburn, Arkansas’ gymnastics team has matched the highest ranking in program history by moving up to No. 3 in the nation.

The Razorbacks knocked off Auburn in Barnhill Arena on Friday and set a school record by scoring 197.025 points. That total pushed the Razorbacks up to No. 3 in the nation behind only Oklahoma and Alabama. Arkansas led the nation with a 196.750 in the previous week’s home win over No. 12 Kentucky.

In the Auburn win, the Razorbacks had a 49.300 on vault, which ties for seventh-best in school history; a 49.250 on bars, which ties for second-best; a 49.350 on beam, which also ties for second-best; and a 49.125 on floor.

OU is No. 1 with an average score of 196.425 while Alabama is No. 2 with a 196.405. Utah and UCLA are No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, to round out the top five.

Arkansas’ previous record score was 196.950 in the NCAA Session II meet last year to send the Razorbacks to the NCAA Super Six.

In the individual events, Arkansas is No. 2 on beam, No. 5 on bars, No. 6 on floor and No. 14 on vault.

Arkansas also reached the No. 3 spot in the national rankings for one week last year in the fifth week of the season. The Razorbacks went on to finish fifth in the nation.

In the individual rankings, sophomore Jaime Pisani is No. 9 in the nation in the all-around, followed by senior Casey Jo Magee at No. 10 and senior Amy DeFilippo at No. 14. Arkansas and Alabama are the only two schools in the country with three all-arounders in the top 15.

In the individual events, Pisani is tied for No. 20 on vault; Magee is No. 12, Pisani tied for No. 26 and DeFilippo tied for No. 28 on bars; senior Sarah Nagashima is tied for No. 14 and DeFilippo tied for No. 29 on bars; and Pisani is tied for No. 12 on floor.

In the South Central Region rankings, Arkansas is No. 2 overall behind Oklahoma, No. 1 on beam, No. 2 on bars and floor, and No. 3 on vault.